Part III of III "Out with the Old; In with the New"
~~~~~~~~~~ Anastazya walked up to the apartment building, searched and found the apartment, and just as she was about to knock, she heard yelling. One of the voices sounded like Psylocke's voice. Ana hestitated. Things got quiet, and Ana considered returning another time, but then heard the loud smash and thud. Her skin crawled. She knocked hard on the door, yelling, "Psylocke!?" And then pounded on the door again when no one answered fast enough. She listened and heard someone step to the door. The chain on the door was put in place and door creaked ever so slightly open. Ana saw a thin woman, about her height with purple hair, peer out the door crack. "Hello? I am sorry but Psylocke isn't home and I haven't seen her in several weeks," Jennifer said. Ana slid her foot between the door and the frame. "What do you mean? I just heard Psylocke's voice yelling," Ana said, getting worried. Jennifer chuckled, "Oh, that was me! I'm practicing for a play I'm in. Sorry if it startled you, but I have go now. Good bye." She tried closing the door, but Ana's foot was blocking it. Ana peered just past Jennifer's head, and in the front closet mirror, she saw the form of a person lying on the ground, their head bleeding. "Let me in, so I could leave Psylocke a message," she said, posturing herself to break the chain and push the door in. "Oh no, I am not able to let you in right now, but if you come back--" was all Jennifer got to say before Ana threw her hips into the door and bust the chain, pushed the door in, and sent Jennifer flying to the floor. Anastazya got her first look at the body, and it was, indeed, Psylocke. An iron figurine was laying sideways on the counter, but worse, the glass table was shattered and Psylocke's blood seeped from her head, soaking both the broken shards and the capret. As Jennifer tried to get up, Ana kicked her down again, hitting her in the jaw and throat. That was one of the ways she was taught to take a rabid dog down. Jennifer lay still on the floor, and Ana ran to Psylocke's side. She was alive. She searched the apartment frantically for a phone and called for an ambulance. Then, she dashed back to Psylocke's side to administer first aid. She found a towel in the kitchen and pressed it firmly to Psylocke's forehead. As she pondered what she could use as a bandage, Ana sensed Jennifer stir and stand, and she was ready. Ana played ignorant and let Jennifer come up behind her. Jennifer never expected the blow to her abdomen and she crunched over, spitting up blood, and dropping to the floor again. This time, she didn't stir. Making sure Psylocke was ok, Ana tore the sleeves from Jennifer's shirt and used them to tie Jennifer's hands behind her back. That was when she heard the meow, and turned and saw the most beautiful white cat whining and licking Psylocke's face. Psylocke started to stir. "Psylocke? It's me, Anastazya. Was she trying to kill you?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Psylocke's eyes couldn't focus as she came to. She felt something small and rough rubbing her cheek. She could barely make out the figure before her. "Who...?" "Anastazya. Lt. Rowan. Remember me?" she said almost humorously. Psylocke's speech sounded slurred. Her head rolled slightly. "No...go away...need sleep." She muttered as she closed her eyes. Ana gently touched Psylocke's shoulder. "Psylocke, you were knocked out by this woman. You need to go to the hospital," she said empathically. Psylocke didn't move or respond. "Psylocke, stay with me here. You need to stay awake." As if on cue, a set of paramedics entered the apartment followed by the landlord. Anastazya backed away slightly as she explained to the medics what happened. The medics called up a second stretcher for Jennifer. As they wheeled Psylocke out of the apartment, Ana heard Psylocke lightly moan "George..." Ana picked up the cat and stroked it. "Are you George? It's okay, little one," she said to the cat. "She'll be fine," as Ana watched Psylocke get placed in the ambulance and taken to the hospital. Ana then returned to the apartment and started to clean up. But George kept coming up to Ana while she worked, and demanded to be petted. "Ok," she said, picking up George for the 15th time, and stroking her soft fur yet again, "You want to talk to me? Psylocke will be fine and she'll be back home soon. Don't you worry, I'll take care of you," she said trying to put George down, but George didn't want to go just yet. Ana laughed. "Ok, I really need to clean up. We don't want you getting into the glass on the floor, and it would be better if Psylocke came home to a cleaner house than this," she motioned to the mess on the floor as if the cat could understand her. "So, is it ok for me to be your roommate for a day or two?" she said, laughing at the cat. George just put her paw on Ana's chest, pressed in and made herself at home in Ana's arms. ~~ It took Ana nearly 4 hours to clean everything up, between cleaning and having to pet the cat that she 'thinks' is called George. Ana called Cassandra and told her she'd be here the night, and would call her tomorrow. Ana found Psy's keys, and was able to lock the door. She crashed on the couch, and noticed that one white fur ball joined her for the night. She would visit Psy tomorrow morning. ~~~~~~ "Good morning, Psylocke," Ana said as she walked in the hospital room where Psylcke looked much better than last night. Psylocke peered at the woman as she approached. "We've met before, right?" Ana chuckled. "Yes, Psylocke, at the Emperor's wedding," we talked a bit. I am Lt. Anastazya Rowan. I was a pilot on Garrek's ship when we met. Ring any bells?" she smiled hoping Psy remembered her. "Right! I remember now," she said, cracking a light smile. "...but what are you doing in my dreams?" Ana's face contorts slightly looking worried. "In your dreams?" she responded, puzzled. "Psylocke, you are not dreaming. You are in the hospital. Your roommate tried to kill you. I found you on the floor with your head cracked open and got you to the hospital. Your roommate is in jail now," she finished, paused, then continued, "Don't you remember any of that?" Psylocke's heart sank. "Oh yeah...I remember. Thank you...I think. Um...so what brings you to these parts?" Ana laughs softly. "I have been apartment hunting and am having trouble finding a decent place. Many apartment buildings don't like that I am an Imperial Officer," she said that with flair and mock arrogance. "I got a list of other Imperials in the city, and saw your name. I figured that if you had an apartment, then maybe your apartment building would have room for me, too." She paused, with saddness, and continued, "but alas, there were no apartments available and your landlord told me to check back in 6 months," She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, do you know of any other apartment buildings that would take kindly to Imperial officers living there?" she asks more lightheartedly. "Well, I highly doubt that Jennifer and I will be living together anymore." She let out a slight chuckle. "I could probably use a friend to split the rent..." her eyes wandered upward to look at Ana. Ana hadn't thought about rooming with someone, but the thought was starting to grab her attention now. "Hmmmm, I don't know what my new job is yet, so I have no idea what kind of hours I would be keeping,..." she said, "but I would keep the place clean, never bother your things, and..." she starts laughing. She looks at Psylocke and softly says, "Well, this could be fun." "Do you label your food with black marker?" Psylocke asked. Ana looked confused, "No, unless you insist that I need to," she responded. Psylocke snickered and looked back down again. "Okay, you're in. Anything's better than Jennifer!" Ana rolled her eyes again, and slightly sarcastically said, "I hope so, " and they both laughed.
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